Tool hanger



C. C. POND June 27, 1944.

TOOL HANGER FiledApril 24, 1944 [we/woe; CLYDE 6. POND .5, MAA

ATTORNEY Patented June 27, 1944 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFlCEiQi 2,352,406 TOOL HANGER Clyde c, Pond, Shelbyville, Ind.

Application April 24, 1944, Serial No. 532,559

1 Claim.

This invention relates to hangers for attaching to the upper or hand ends of tools or implements of any kind, and whereby the said tools or implements may be conveniently hung up and suspended when not in use, and the main object of the invention is to provide a disappearing hanger for such purpose, for slidable mounting within a slot formed in the handle end and whereby the hanger may be drawn out for suspending the implement from a nail or the like, or may be retracted fully within the said slot of the handle so as not to interfere with the use of the implement in the hands of the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the upper or hand end of a tool or implement handle, the said handle having a suitable slot extended longitudinally into the end thereof, an elongated flat hanger made of metal or other suitable material, and adapted to slide freely into said handle slot, there being means provided at the inner end of the hanger as disposed within the slot for retaining the hanger within the slot and limiting its movement to a short reciprocal action in and out of the slot lengthwise, whereby the hanger may be drawn out for use or may be fully retracted within the slot when not in use as a hanger, the outer end of the hanger being suitably formed as a loop or hook adapted to engage a nail or the like for suspending the tool or implement.

More specifically, a, further object of the invention is to provide for the handle of a tool or implement of any kind, such as a broom, mop, rake, fork, or the like, the upper or hand end of such handle being formed with a suitable elongated slot extended longitudinally thereinto, a correspondingly elongated hanger made of a flat strip of metal or other suitable material and adapted to slide lengthwise into and out of the handle slot, the said hanger being formed at its inner end as disposed within the slot with a longitudinally extended stud-engaging-slot extended adjacent to and parallel a margin of the hanger, a pair of retaining studs or the like passed transversely through the end of the handle and medially through the said retaining slot of the hanger, in spaced relation to each other, as means for retaining the hanger within the handle slot and limiting its movement to a straight longitudinally extended and reciprocating movement in and out of the handle slot, a friction finger struck up from the inner end of the hanger and adapted to frictionally bear against a wall of the handle slot, for holding the retracted hanger in place within the slot, when not intentionally drawn out for use, the upper or outer end of the hanger being formed as a loop or hook for engaging a nail or the like.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may appear from the specification, attention is directed to the drawing as embodying a preferred form and structure of the invention, and wherem:

Figure l is an elevational view of the upper or hand end of a tool or implement handle, ordinarily made of wood, showing in dotted lines the depth of the handle slot and the fiat, elongated hanger as slidably confined therein, the longitudinally extended slot of the hanger, the friction finger and the loop at the upper end of the hanger being indicated also in dotted lines, the spaced pair of retaining studs being shown in full lines.

Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, showing the hanger however as drawn fully out of the handle slot, ready for use, as for engaging a nail for suspending the tool therefrom.

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, but taken at an angle of ninety degrees therefrom, and thus providing an edge view of the hanger.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail view in perspective of the hanger alone, as removed from the handle.

The invention is designed for mounting upon the hand end, or upper end, of any straight handled tool or implement, one such handle being here represented at 5, and the end thereof being formed with an elongated slot 6 extended longitudinally thereinto, and the invention includes a correspondingly elongated, thin and flat hanger l of metal or other suitable material, and slidably confined with the slot 6 and limited to a short, reciprocal movement therein, lengthwise. This hanger is formed at its lower end as disposed within the handle slot 6, with an elongated slot 8 longitudinally extended adjacent one margin of the hanger and parallel thereto, and with a friction finger 9 struck up from the hanger, adjacent and parallel to the opposite margin of the hanger. At its upper and outer end the hanger is formed with a circular aperture 10, thus providing a ring or loop I I adapted for engaging a nail (not shown), or the like, as extended from a wall and from which, the tool or implement may be thus suspended For reciprocably retaining the hanger within the handle slot 6, as above referred to, a pair of studs 12, l2a are passed transversely through the end of the handle in spaced relation to one another, perpendicularly to the slot 6 and medially therethrough; that is to say either one or the other of said studs always holds a medial position within said slot, depending on whether the hanger is drawn out for use, or whether it is retracted within the handle slot. In other words these studs are so spaced and positioned relative to the end margins of the slot 8, that when the hanger l is fully retracted within the slot (Fig. 1), then the upper or outer stud 12 will lie adjacent the upper and outer end margin of the slot 8, and the lower or inner stud l2a will lie medially positioned Within the slot 8. But with the hanger drawn fully out for use (Fig. 2), then the lower and inner stud. lZa will impinge the lower end margin of the slot 8, and thus limit further outward movement of the hanger. Thus the hanger is permitted a certain degree of reciprocal movement in and out of the handle slot, for drawing it out for use as a hanger and for retracting it into the handle slot when the tool itself is in use.

It is thought that the construction and use of the device will be fully understood from the foregoing description, and while I have here shown a specific embodiment of the invention and certain structural features thereof, the construction here shown may be varied in minor details as desired, within the scope of the claim.

I claim:

In a device of the kind described for mounting upon the end of a straight tool-handle, the said end of the handle being formed with an elongated slot extended straightly thereinto, an elongated flat hanger adapted to slide freely length-wise into said handle-slot, the inner end of the hanger as disposed Within the slot bein formed with an elongated and longitudinally extended slot adjacent to and parallel with one margin of the hanger, a pair of spaced studs extended transversely through the end of the v handle and through said slot of the hanger as means for reciprocably confining the hanger within the slot, a spring finger struck up from the hanger as means for frictionally pressing against the wall of the slot for preventing accidental slippage of the hanger, and a ring formed at the outer end of the hanger for engaging a hook, the hanger as retracted within its slot of the handle presenting a smooth hand-end of the handle for the use of the operator.

CLYDE C. POND. 

